Here's why Bulls could surprise

April 18, 2006|SAM SMITH Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO -- An also-ran like the Houston Rockets is why you want to make the playoffs. Ditto the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and Kansas City Kings. Sometimes this basketball talk can get too technical, so try to concentrate: You want to make the playoffs because stuff happens. If the Bulls make the playoffs, which looks likely now after Friday's Ben Gordon-led victory over the Washington Wizards, there's a reasonable chance they can win a first-round playoff series. That's if they can avoid the Detroit Pistons and get a matchup against the Miami Heat or New Jersey Nets. Don't scoff. It has been much chronicled how parity has overtaken the NBA this season, especially the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are 2-1 over the Nets this season, the only loss coming on an unlikely Richard Jefferson three-point play at the end of an early-season game. If there's a fraudulent team in the Eastern's top four, it's likely the Nets with Vince Carter's arsenal of 27-foot fallaway jumpers. The Bulls are 0-2 against the Heat, their host today, but the losses have been by three points and one point with Dwyane Wade averaging 14.5 points and shooting 9 of 25. Stop Wade, and you have a very good chance of beating the Heat, especially because Alonzo Mourning is not expected back from injury for the first round of the playoffs. The Bulls, winners of nine of their last 11, are a hot team if not a great one. That type of team, especially when as huge an underdog as the Bulls will be, can be scary. You got the feeling last year the young Bulls weren't ready when they went ahead 2-0 in the playoffs over Washington and were favored. This time, everyone will be talking up the Pistons and Heat for the conference finals, maybe even the Nets after their recent 14-game winning streak. Of course, there are also the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron James will be in the playoffs for the first time with sidekick Larry Hughes back from injury. It's supposed to be a walkover first round for the favorites. That perhaps would be so for the Bulls if they get the Pistons or Cavaliers, against whom they haven't matched up well this season and have yet to beat. But strange things happen in the playoffs when the pressure is on and suddenly that favorite is playing from behind. with 13.2 seconds left. Ben Gordon missed a 16-foot jumper as the clock ran out to force overtime. Nocioni scored seven points in a 14-4 fourth quarter run that gave Chicago its first lead of the game, 81-80, with 8:11 left after two Hinrich free throws. "We're happy because we're playing really, really well," Nocioni said. "We're creating and taking open shots and we're running the offense." The Magic didn't score for almost three minutes in the fourth until Dooling hit a three-pointer from the wing, tying the game at 83 with 6:33 to go. Neither team led by more than two points after the bucket until the extra period. "They deserved to win," Magic coach Brian Hill said. "They played hard, they made big shots when they needed them and it probably wasn't one of our better offensive efforts from the standpoint of getting real good ball movement and taking care of the basketball." Luol Deng had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Gordon added 18 points for the Bulls. The Magic honored former player and current Bulls coach Scott Skiles before the game with a video tribute and the unveiling of a permanent arena banner. Skiles received a plaque but didn't speak to the crowd. The guard played five seasons at Orlando and remains the franchise leader in assists with 2,776. He averaged 13 points and seven assists over 384 games with the Magic.